Adopting strategies with menopausal experiences: A systematic review
Khandehroo M, Peyman N, Mahdizadeh M, Salary M and Tehrani H
Adopting strategies with menopausal experiences: A systematic review
Khandehroo M, Peyman N, Mahdizadeh M, Salary M and Tehrani H
Menopause is one of the most significant stages in women's life. It is accompanied by many complications and a serious challenge. This study aimed to assess the menopause experiences of Iranian women and compatibility strategies.
Sleep studies in obese children with obstructive sleep apnea: Pulse oximetry as a diagnostic tool
Gowai H and Ugonna K
Sleep studies in obese children with obstructive sleep apnea: Pulse oximetry as a diagnostic tool
Gowai H and Ugonna K
Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with many co-morbidities in children and young people. Obesity has long been recognised as an important risk factor associated with obstructive sleep apnea. Currently, polysomnography is regarded as the gold-standard diagnostic tool for obstructive sleep apnea. The validity of oximetry as a screening and diagnostic tool for obstructive sleep apnea has been the subject of several studies in the literature. There is little published evidence on the use of oximetry in children with obesity. This study assesses whether oximetry is a reliable diagnostic tool for obstructive sleep apnea in obese children. We reviewed the medical records of obese children with a suspected diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea who underwent oximetry and cardiorespiratory polygraphy or full polysomnography at Sheffield Children's Hospital between January 2010 and March 2022. We compared oximetry results with the apnea-hypopnea index from cardiorespiratory polygraphy or full polysomnography for each patient. A total of 60 patient records were included in the analysis. The sensitivity of oximetry in diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea was 70.9%, with a specificity of 65.5% and a positive predictive value of 68.75%. In the subgroup of subjects with severe obstructive sleep apnea (apnea-hypopnea index > 10), oximetry had a sensitivity of 87.5%. We concluded that oximetry could be a helpful initial diagnostic tool for obstructive sleep apnea in obese children, but is not entirely reliable. A negative oximetry result in a symptomatic individual should prompt a referral for more detailed investigations, while a positive result can help in treatment decisions without needing a polysomnography.
Sex Differences in the Role of Sleep on Cognition in Older Adults
Wiranto Y, Siengsukon C, Mazzotti DR, Burns JM and Watts A
Sex Differences in the Role of Sleep on Cognition in Older Adults
Wiranto Y, Siengsukon C, Mazzotti DR, Burns JM and Watts A
The study aimed to investigate sex differences in the relationship between sleep quality (self-report and objective) and cognitive function across three domains (executive function, verbal memory, and attention) in older adults.
Are asymptomatic carriers of OTC deficiency always asymptomatic? A multicentric retrospective study of risk using the UCDC longitudinal study database
Sen K, Izem R, Long Y, Jiang J, Konczal LL, McCarter RJ, , Gropman AL and Bedoyan JK
Are asymptomatic carriers of OTC deficiency always asymptomatic? A multicentric retrospective study of risk using the UCDC longitudinal study database
Sen K, Izem R, Long Y, Jiang J, Konczal LL, McCarter RJ, , Gropman AL and Bedoyan JK
Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD) due to an X-linked OTC mutation, is responsible for moderate to severe hyperammonemia (HA) with substantial morbidity and mortality. About 80% of females with OTCD remain apparently "asymptomatic" with limited studies of their clinical characteristics and long-term health vulnerabilities. Multimodal neuroimaging studies and executive function testing have shown that asymptomatic females exhibit limitations when stressed to perform at higher cognitive load and had reduced activation of the prefrontal cortex. This retrospective study aims to improve understanding of factors that might predict development of defined complications and serious illness in apparent asymptomatic females. A proband and her daughter are presented to highlight the utility of multimodal neuroimaging studies and to underscore that asymptomatic females with OTCD are not always asymptomatic.
Recent Stressful Life Events and Perceived Stress as Serial Mediators of the Association between Adverse Childhood Events and Insomnia
Benham G, Charak R, Cano-Gonzalez I, Mena Teran J and Kenemore J
Recent Stressful Life Events and Perceived Stress as Serial Mediators of the Association between Adverse Childhood Events and Insomnia
Benham G, Charak R, Cano-Gonzalez I, Mena Teran J and Kenemore J
Insomnia is common in college students and linked to poorer mental and physical health. There is growing evidence that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may contribute to insomnia in adulthood. However, beyond the need for additional replication of these findings, there is a need to identify underlying mechanisms that plausibly connect the two experiences. Based on a serial mediation model, the current study examined the role of two theoretically informed mediators: recent stressful life events and perceived stress. A cross-sectional survey of 2,218 college students at a large university in the southwestern United States was conducted between August 2020 and December 2021. The sample was predominantly Hispanic (96%) and female (73%), with a mean age of 20.7 years. Standardized measures of adverse childhood experiences, recent stressful life events, perceived stress, and insomnia were administered to participants online. Almost 20% of participants reported having experienced four or more adverse childhood experiences and 63% met the threshold for insomnia. Reporting four or more ACEs was associated with significantly greater insomnia severity, and this relationship was serially mediated by both recent stressful life events and perceived stress. However, recent stressful life events appeared to be the most powerful mediator. The results of the current study indicate that recent exposure to stressful life events serves as a plausible mechanism linking early adversity during childhood to adult insomnia and could therefore serve as a potential target for intervention. The findings suggest that students would benefit from university-wide efforts to reduce the number and/or intensity of common stressors.
Exploring the co-occurrence of depression, anxiety and insomnia symptoms, diagnoses and treatments in primary care: observational study using UK primary care data
Nimmons D, Bazo-Alvarez JC, Avgerinou C, Hayes J, Osborn D, Cooper C, Petersen I and Walters K
Exploring the co-occurrence of depression, anxiety and insomnia symptoms, diagnoses and treatments in primary care: observational study using UK primary care data
Nimmons D, Bazo-Alvarez JC, Avgerinou C, Hayes J, Osborn D, Cooper C, Petersen I and Walters K
Depression, anxiety and insomnia often co-occur. However, there is a lack of research regarding how they cluster and how this is related to medication used to treat them.
Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Effect of Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Lifestyle Factors on Medical Students' Academic Achievement
Neuman J, Ina EA, Huq SO, Blanca A and Petrosky SN
Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Effect of Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Lifestyle Factors on Medical Students' Academic Achievement
Neuman J, Ina EA, Huq SO, Blanca A and Petrosky SN
Unhealthy dietary habits, decreased physical activity, poor sleep quality, and increasing levels of stress and burnout have all been identified as major concerns of medical students. Due to the rigorous environment of medical school, maintaining a well-balanced and nutritious diet is often replaced by more convenient and nutrient-poor options. Improper dietary habits and a sedentary lifestyle both play an essential role in the development of type II diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. These unhealthy trends commonly stem from the innate drive for medical students to achieve at the highest level, sacrificing healthy lifestyle choices to maximize studying. Unfortunately, this dynamic creates a paradox where students create an unhealthy lifestyle to increase academic achievement; however, these destructive living conditions lead to a diminished sense of well-being. As a result, greater rates of burnout, comorbidities, and other maladaptive tendencies diminish success in school.
Characteristics of Patients With Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency From Rural Appalachia: A Retrospective Single-Center Study
Kolagatla S, Gullapalli D, Vangara A, Chan R, Jernigan D, Moka N and Ganti SS
Characteristics of Patients With Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency From Rural Appalachia: A Retrospective Single-Center Study
Kolagatla S, Gullapalli D, Vangara A, Chan R, Jernigan D, Moka N and Ganti SS
Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency, an autosomal co-dominant inherited condition, significantly impacts lung and liver functions, with mutations in the SERPINA1 gene, notably the Z allele, playing a pivotal role in disease susceptibility. This retrospective descriptive study from a rural Eastern Kentucky pulmonary clinic aimed to characterize patients with AAT deficiency, focusing on demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters extracted from electronic health records (EHR) of Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH). Among 100 patient encounters, 56 were analyzed, revealing notable sex-based differences in smoking rates and co-existing conditions, with males showing higher rates of black lung and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In comparison, females exhibited higher rates of asthma, COVID-19, pneumothorax, and obstructive sleep apnea. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding genotype-phenotype correlations and demographic factors in assessing AAT deficiency, advocating for further research to refine management strategies and elucidate causal relationships.
Role of dietary fiber and lifestyle modification in gut health and sleep quality
Bacha AA, Suhail M, Awwad FA, Ismail EAA and Ahmad H
Role of dietary fiber and lifestyle modification in gut health and sleep quality
Bacha AA, Suhail M, Awwad FA, Ismail EAA and Ahmad H
Dietary fiber has an immense role in the gut microbiome by modulating juvenile growth, immune system maturation, glucose, and lipid metabolism. Lifestyle changes might disrupt gut microbiota symbiosis, leading to various chronic diseases with underlying inflammatory conditions, obesity, and its associated pathologies. An interventional study of 16 weeks examined the impact of psyllium husk fiber with and without lifestyle modification on gut health and sleep quality in people with central obesity (men = 60 and women = 60), those aged from 40 to 60 years, those having WC ≥ 90 cm (men) and WC ≥ 80 cm (women), and no history of any chronic disease or regular medication. The participants were subgrouped into three intervention groups, namely, the psyllium husk fiber (PSH) group, the lifestyle modification (LSM) group, and the LSM&PSH group and control group with equal gender bifurcation (men = 15 and women = 15). A 24-h dietary recall, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) symptoms, and sleep quality analysis data were collected on validated questionnaires. The analyses of variance and covariance were used for baseline and post-intervention, respectively. Student's -test was applied for pre- and post-intervention changes on the variable of interest. The intervention effect on GIT health was highly significant ( < 0.001). The mean GIT scores of the LSM, PSH, and LSM&PSH groups were 2.99 ± 0.14, 2.49 ± 0.14, and 2.71 ± 0.14, respectively, compared to the mean GIT scores of the control group. No significant ( = 0.205) effect of either intervention was observed on sleep quality. The study concluded that psyllium husk fiber significantly improved the GIT symptoms, while no significant effect of the intervention was observed on sleep quality analysis.
Concerns of Primary Caregivers of Children with Complex Chronic Conditions in Kerala: A Qualitative Analysis
Abdulla S, Pillai HPG and Ramachandran R
Concerns of Primary Caregivers of Children with Complex Chronic Conditions in Kerala: A Qualitative Analysis
Abdulla S, Pillai HPG and Ramachandran R
Exploring data on primary caregiver experiences of dealing with chronically ill children (CIC) strengthens the ability of paediatricians to improve the quality of care by detecting unmet needs in paediatric palliative care and understanding their original concerns instead of presumed needs. Hence, this study aims to identify and describe the primary concerns and challenges faced by caregivers of children with complex chronic conditions in a tertiary care hospital in Kerala.